Apparatus for producing color music or other spectacular luminous effects



Dec. 2, 1930. A. B. HECTOR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLOR MUSIC OR OTHER SPECTACULAR LUMINOUS EFFECTS Original Filed July 7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet A. B. HECTOR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLOR MUSIC OR OTHER SPE 0r Dec. 2, 1930.

CTACULAR LUMINOUS EF iginal Filed July '7,

Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER BURNETT HECTOR, OF GREENWICH, NEAR. SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES,

AUSTRALIA APPAR'A'IIl'S FOR PRODUCING COLOR MUSIC OR OTHER SPECTACULAR LUMINOUS EFFECTS Original application filed July 7, 1927, Serial No. 204,086,"and in Australia July 15, 1926. Divided and this application filed August 31, 1928. Serial No. 303,306.

This invention has reference to improvements 1n, and relating to the production of color music or the harmony of color and 1 the emotions of a musician, through the keyboard of a musical instrument or the like. I may in some instances use a silent keyboard, that is without the agency of sound, to produce luminous displays.

The invention consistsbriefly of the arrangement and/or projection of colored lights according to a color scale, of treble and bass notes and in apparatus whereby the -mechanism of piano players, organs, or other keyboard lnstruments may be convenientlyutilized to obtain the desired effects, and in means for the reflection and dilfusion of light and the production of shadows.

It is Well known that if the space occupied by the normal spectrum be divided the various colors occupy different proportions of this space. The ratios of each color may be determined and form the basis for a color scale.

' Advantage of this is taken by me to construct what I term a color scale of treble and bass notes.

In applying the color scale to the keys of a keyboard musical instrument I start at the lowest bass note and proceed upwardly.

The scale or ratio of the spectrum colors may be arranged over the various keys and octaves in several ways. 7

According to the present invention a series of projector apparatus is used to display colored lights underthe control of a musician or mechanical player by the use of electromagnetically controlled shutters which may be of varying sizes according to therespective areas of the different colors shown in the spectrum.

The apparatus may be portable and the keys or hammers of a keyboard instrument may be provided with metal contact strips to close an. sion.

But in order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be. made to the accompanying drawings wherein i V Figure 1 is a side elevational iew, partly in section, of one of a number of projectors having electromagnets controlled froma keyboard. I, j Figure 2 is afront elevation al view thereof, also partly, in section. I Figures 3 and 4 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, of parts of the shutter mechanism of Figures 1 and 2; p

Figure, 5 is a view of the iris diaphragm taken on the line 5 .5,.Figure 1.

The construction illustrated shows one of the series of projectors used to display colored lights under the control of a musician or mechanical player. Electromagnetically controlled shutters of various sizes accord ing to the respective areas of the difierent colors shown in the spectrum are used to display the colors, one source of light being utilizedto display twelve colors or the rep resentation of one octave in color music. A keyboard instrument having seven octaves would require seven of the projectors illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

Each projector comprises a casing A in which ismounted a source of light 5 and a condenser 6 in front of which is an iris, or contracting diaphragm .7 having a lever 8 adapted to be controlled by a solenoid 9 and a three position switch 10 which may be arranged as a swellpedal on the keyboard instrument. I

The color'screens 11, twelve in number, one

for each note of an octave, are arranged in sections in front of the diaphragm 7, as best shown in Figure 1, and are covered by electromagnetically "controlled shutters 12. Each shutter is hinged to the partition 13 by lugs or brackets 14: and has secured to it a member 3 electric circuiton their depres- 15 having an extension 16 which is connected to a coupling 17 adapted to be depressed on the attraction of the armature 18 of the electromagnet 19.

In this invention relays are not provided for operation by each note of the keyboard instrument, the instrument being connected directly to the electromagnet of its particular color screen. The connecting wires for one octave are shown in Figure 2 leading to the terminals 20. Each of these terminals is connected to its respective insulated terminal. 21 leading to the coil of the particular one of the twelve electromagnets.

The return wire from each electromagnet is grounded to its respective lug brackets 14, the path leading by way of the metallic partition 1,3 to the return terminal 22.

The sustaining of the shutters in their open position is effected by a switch 23 controlled by the coupling 17 which is so arranged that on raising a shutter 12 the switch is closed allowing current to flow to the respective relay from common terminal 24 by way of a common wire 25 connected to each of the switches 23. The opposite sides of the switches 23 are connected by wires 26 to their respective insulated terminals, the return circuit being completed by way of the earth terminal. 22.

The common terminal 24 of the sustaining switches is connected by a .wire 27 to a suitable sustaining switch capable of being operated from the keyboard instrument.

I claim:

1. In improvements in the production of color music and other spectacular luminous effects, a source of light, a series of color screens in front of the light, a condenser and contracting diaphragm between. said screens and light, shutters for covering and uncovering the color screens, electromagnetic means for actuating said shutters, means for sustaining any of the shutters in-the open position and electrically actuated means for operating the diaphragm.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic means for actuating the shutters comprises an electromagnet for each of the shutters and an armature for each of said electromagnets, each of said armatnres being operative when its associated electrcmagnet is energized, to move its associated shutter into open position, and wherein the means for sustaining the shutters in open position comprises a plurality of electric switches each associated with one of the shutters and operable by the opening movement of such shutter to close the electric circuit to the electromagnet associated therewith.

3. In an apparatus for the production of color music and other spectacular luminous effects; a source of light, a series of color screens in front of said source of light, a

ALEXANDER BURNETT HECTOR. 

